Truck



1935-v I c. FQCO'LIIJNS 2,003,038

TRUCK Filed June 15, 1934 V 5 sneets sneet i Cfbun/a.

May 28,1935. I c. F. COLLINS 2,003,038

- TRUCK 1 Filed Jun Is, 1954 a Sheets-Sheet s 01 o o 0/- o 8 7'9 I 5/ I,72 75 v 12 5 Patented May 28, 1935 v umTEo Y STATES PATENT oFFicn TRUCKCarl F. Collins, Winterhaven, Fla. 7 Application .l'unc 13, 1934, SerialNo. 730,406

12 Claims. (01. 2144555) hereinafter more specifically described,claimed;

This invention appertains to hand trucks 'em ployed in warehouses andthe like for handling containers of various characters, the truck beingof the type embodying an elongated frame terminating in handles at oneend and supporting ground wheels at its opposite ends, with meansadjacent to the wheels for engaging load to be carried.

One of'the salient objects of myinvention is'to provide a hand truckhaving novel adjustable means at its forward end for engaging under andclamping the load. whereby tiers of boxes of yariedsi'zes can beconveniently andexpeditiously handled. V

Another important object of my invention is to provide a hand truckhavinglaterally extending gripping arms at its forward end, with meanson the arms for engaging under the load, novel means being provided foradjusting the arms toward and away from one another, whereby differentsizes of containers can be readily grasped;

A further object of my invention is to provide supplemental and forciblemeans for urging the arms into clamping contact with the load after thefirst adjustment of the arms to insure against the slipping of the load,said supplemental means being also operable to facilitate the initialreleasing of the arms from the load, whereby the first adjusting meanscan be conveniently operated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a swinging platform onthe body of the truck, with novel means for adjusting the platformtoward and away from the gripping arms, whereby relatively thin boxescan be conveniently gripped by said arms and supported on the truck.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide novel means for releasablylocking the platform in its adjusted position, wherebythe same willfirmly support theload when the truck is tilted back to'its carrying"position.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for mountingthe various operating parts on the truck, whereby the same can beconveniently actuatedby the user of the truck, and whereby suchmechanism will be out of the load to be carried.

A-still further object of my invention is to provide a novel hand truckof the above character,

which will be durable and efficient in use, one

, that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can beplaced upon the market at a reasonable cost. r I

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, ar-

55" rangement, and formation of parts, as will'be under the i of the Wayand illustrated in the accompanying drawings; in which 1 a Figure 1 is aside elevation of a hand truck constructed'in accordance with myinvention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same; Figure 3 is an enlargedfragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the truck, taken on the line33 of Figure 2, looking in the directionpf the arrows, illustrating thenovel means employed for adjusting the position of' the plat form. r g gp Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section through the frame of the truckand. platform at one side,

the view being taken substantially on the line 4i4 of Figure 3'; I v vFigure 5 is a'fragmentary rear elevation'of the supporting platformshowing the actuating means carried thereby;

Figure 6 is an enlargeddetail view of the opere ating han dle for theplatform;

Figure 7 is an enlarged rearelevation of the housing for the operatingmeans of the clamping arms with the coverplate removed to illustratesuch operating mechanism, oneof the arms and its operating mechanismbeing omitted to simplify the understanding of theoperating mechanism,the arm being shown in its extreme closed position; P j

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 88 ofFigure'l, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating theoperating mechanism for both of the arms;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure '7looking in the direction of the arrows the arms being shown intheirextreme closed position;

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line lll,l0ofFigure 7, looking in' r the direction of the arrows; a; Figure 11 is aview similar to Figure '7 showing the arm in its extreme open position.

Referring to the drawings in detaiL'wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter Agenerally indicates a hand truck constructed in accordance with myinvention, and which embodies aipair of spaced parallel aside, beams orrails 15. The rear-ends of the rails l5 are suitably treated 'toprovide'hand grips [6. The rails are also connected together in any,preferred manner, such as by cross-braces I'l. Suitably secured to theforward ends of the side beams or rails- I5 arewheeled brackets l8, and

any preferred type of ground wheels l9 can be journalled in saidbrackets.

Likewise, rigidly secured to the side beams-or rails l5, adjacent totheir forward ends, is a housing or casing 20, which encloses theoperating mechanism 2| for the gripping arms 22 and 23. These arms havetheir inner ends extended into the casing through the opposite sidewalls thereof, and sleeves 24 are carried by the side walls of thecasing for receiving said arms. These guide sleeves can also be extendedthrough the'side rails or beams l of the truck frame and through thewheel brackets l8. If desired, other guides 25 can be arrangedinteriorly of the casing for said arms. These arms 22 and 23 projectlaterally beyond the sides of the truck frame, and have formed thereonforwardly projecting wings or legs 26. The inner faces of the legs orwings 26, at their forward ends, carry spurs 21 which are adapted toengage under the load. These spurs are adapted to be formed fromhardened metal and can be detachably connected with the arms so that thesame can bereplaced-when worn. The novel mechanism 2| is employed formoving the arms and spurs 21, toward and away from one another to grip,the

load to be carried, and this means will belater described in detail.

,Tn'order to, provide for theca'rrying of relatively, thin boxes, and topermit the convenient gripping thereof by the arms andspurs, I employ anadjustable platform 28, which is movable towards and away from the spurs21." This platform 28 is carried by the frame, of the truck between theside beams J5 thereof. The supplemental platform 28 also includeslongitudinally extendingside rails 29, which are preferably formed fromchannel iron., The side beams 29 can be connected at spaced pointsbytransverse brace strips 30. The inner or rear ends of the siderails 29have formed thereon, or secured thereto, hinge barrels 3l which receivesupportingpintles 32. The pintles 32 are firmly and rigidly secured tothe side truck beams IS. The lower end of the supplemental platform isleft free for swinging movement and the novel mea'nsemployedfor'movinglthisend of the platform towards and away from the spurs 21includes a transversely extending rock shaft 33. The rock shaft 33 iscarried in bearing brackets 34 welded or otherwise secured to the sideframe pieces 29v adjacent to their rear ends. Keyed to the rock shaft 33adjacent to one'end thereof is 'a crank arm 35, and a crank handle 36 iskeyed frame pieces 29 and the extreme lower ends.

thereof carry headed guide pins 39. The heads of the guide pins areslidably mounted in channel-shaped guides 48, which are secured to theside truck frame beams 15, and it is to be noted that the channel guides40 extend parallel with said beams. Rigidly secured to, orformed on theside frame pieces 29 adjacent to their forward ends, are rearwardlydirected plates 4|, having diagonally extending slots 42 formed therein.

The-"body portions of the guide pins extend through the slots 42.

From the description so far, it'can be seen that when the hand grip ofthe hand crank 36 is grasped and is swung downwardly, the rock shaftwill be rotated, and the links 38 will be pushed downwardly. Due to theconnection between the 'mounted thereon rack bars 5!.

pins 39 and the guides 40, the lower ends of the links will move in astraight downward path, and asthe pins 39 follow this path, the same,riding against'the inclined walls of the slots 42 will push thesupplemental platform forwardly. Means can be provided for locking thehand crank or lever in an adjusted position when the platform is in itsextreme raised or tilted position. This means may consist of a handlever 43 rockably mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 44carried by the hand crank 35.

Secured to the hand lever 43 at one side of the pivot 44, is a lock pin45, which extends through the hand crank. The opposite side of the handlever 43 is engaged by a contractile coil spring 46, which normallyfunctions to urge the pin 45 through the hand crank, The end of the handlever 43, remote from the spring, is shaped to constitute a handle 41,and the same lies adjacent to the hand grip of the hand crank. Thus, bygripping the handle 41 and the hand grip or crank, the lever can berocked to cause the movement of the pin 45 inwardly. 7 When the handcrank 3Sis in its extreme lowered position (see Figure 5) the pin willregister with a lock opening 48 in the link 38, and can ride into thesame. This will effectively lock the mechanism against movement.

Referring specifically to the operating mechanism 2| for the arms 22 and23, it will be noted that a pair of spaced parallel guide bars 50 arerigidly secured in .the casing 2! adjacent to its upper end. ,Theseguide bars-53 have slidably The rack bars 5| carry guide loops 52 forreceiving the guide bars and depending from the'loops are convergingarms 53 which rockably support at their point of connection a doubleended operating lever 54. a

One rack bar, and its dependent ended lever 54, operate one of theclamping arms and the other rack bar and its double ended lever actuatethe other gripping or clamping arm, and the mechanism for actuating botharms is identical, and hence only one will be described in detail.

It is to'be noted, however, that below the guide bars, 58 are a pair ofspaced parallel similar guide bars 55 on which are slidably mountedcarriages 56. Each of the carriages 56 carries depending lugs 51, andthese lugs are rigidly secured totheir respective arms 22 or 23. Each ofthe carriages 56 is provided with vertically slotted heads58. The upperarm of the double ended lever 54 carries a pin 59 which is slidablyreceived in the slotted head. The lower end of the double ended lever ispivotally connected by meansof a pin 68 with the link 5! of a toggle 62.The other link 63 of thetoggle is pivotally connected as at 64 to arigid bar 65 of the casing at one side. The pivot pin 66 is employed forpivotally uniting the links 6| and 63 of the toggle 62 together.Rotatably extending through the top wall of the casing 20 is anoperating shaft 81, and the inner-end of this shaft has keyed orotherwise secured thereto a pinion 69, the teeth of which engage theteeth of the rack bars 5|. Obviously, uponrotation of the pinion, therack bars will be caused to move in opposite directions and carry theirrespective double ended levers 54 therewith.

The operating shaft 5'! extends longitudinally of the truck frame andrearwardly a sufficient distance to be conveniently operated by the handof the user of the truck. A manipulating handle 69 is carried by theshaft, and if preferred, a

pawl and rigid mechanism can be had between Referringto Figure '7, asthelever 4 moves to the right,- the same will be swung on thepivot 60'and on the pivot carried by theconverging arms 53 of the rack bar 5|.-Hence, the upper end of the lever 54 will-be: swung. to the right, andthe same will carry the carriage 56 to the right. Due to theconnectionbetween the carriage and its arm, the arm will bemovedaoutwardly. Obviously, the same action simultaneously takes placeto the other arm. j

I utilize the intermediate mechanism between the rack barsand the armssothat a forcible and augmented leverage will take place.

It is also one, of thesalient features ofmy invention to provide asupplemental means other than thatdescribed forgiving an additionaladjustmentmovement to the arms 22 and 23. "This supplemental mechanismis utilized ioninitially releasing the load and for gripping andclamping the load after the arms have been adjusted to the desiredposition and brought around the load to be carried.

By using the supplemental adjusting mechanism the arms can be forciblybrought into con.

tact with the load and the spurs 2! moved underthe load. Thesupplemental adjusting. mechanism for the arms is generally indicated bythe reference character and includes anoperating rock shaft H. The rockshaft extends transversely through the casing adjacent to one uppercorner thereof, and is journalled in bearings carried by the casing.This, shaft is also supported by the guide'bars 50,and the shaft extendsthrough these guide bars. Keyed to the shaft, or rigidly secured theretoin any' other desired'way, are cranks I2 and 13.: These cranks arepreferably formed on sleeves, which are secured to the rock shaft, andthe sleeves extend respectively between the cover plate of the-casingand one guide bar 50, andbetween both theguide bars 50.

Secured to the outer end of the shaft 'H is an operating foot lever 74which is preferablygof a bell crank shape. The opposite ends of the footlever Mhave formed thereon, or secured thereto, foot pedals l5.Pivotally connected to the crank 12, by means of a pivot 16 is aconnecting link 11. This link '11 is pivotally connected by means of apin I8 with a. crank 1.9 keyed or otherwise secured to a rock shaft 85!.The rock shaft 8ll'is similar to the rock shaft II and functions in thesame manner. The rock shaft 80 is also journalled in'the walls of thecasing 20, and extends through the guide'bars 55. At a point spaced fromthe crank 19 isa crank 81, which is also keyed to the rock shaft .89,the crank 8| is simiinitially adjusted, and it is desired to extend thesame outwardly a further distance," so that when the arms are placedaroundthe load, the arms can be moved into a clamping position, theouter end (seeFigure 7) of the footlever is pressed downwardlya Thiswill-move the parts to the position shown; in-Figure 11,, and thismovement is accomplished in the following manner.

The rock shafts H .and 80 will be turned in unison due to theirconnection by the link 11. Hence, the cranks 8i and 13 willbe swung upwardly. This .will move the. operating links 82 upwardly and break thetoggles 62. The breaking of the toggles functions to draw inwardly onthe lower end of the double-ended lever 54 and swing the upper endthereof outwardly,'moving I the carriage 56 and its arm'outwardly.Obvious ly, when it is desired to'contract the arms, the inner footpedaLis pressed downwardly, which will function to straighten out thetoggle and slide the carriages and'arms inwardly.

From the description so far, it is apparent that when the truck is to beutilized for carrying a load, the arms 22 and 23 are adjusted to the Thetruck is nowv forwardly so that the forwardly extending por tions orlegs 26 of the arms will lie on opposite sides of-the-box. 'Ifydesired,the arms" can be moved inwardly by'the shaft 61 until the spurs engagethe load. The supplemental adjusting means can now be actuated toforcibly urge the spurs under the load, and the forwardly extendingportions 25 of the arms into contact with the load. By tilting the truckback on the wheels the load can be swung back on the truck.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described inconnection with hand trucks, it is to. be understood that certainfeatures of the same, such as the clamping mecha nism, are equallyapplicableto conventional power trucks, and tothat extent the inventionhereinafter claimed -'is not to be specifically limited to hand trucks,but is contemplated to include power trucks, as regards such featuresapplicable thereto. 7

Changes in details may bemade without departing from the spiritpor thescope of my invention, but what I claimas new is: V

1. In a hand truck comprising a' wheeled frame, a pair of slidablearmson the frame, movable towards and away from one another, a sliding rackbar for each arm, means including a shaft and pinion for simultaneouslyoperating the rack bars towards and away from one another, a doubleended lever rockably mounted intermediate its'ends on each rack bar, asliding carriage for each-arm, means connecting the carriage with itsarm, a pivot for the lower end of each double. ended lever, and a pinand slot connection between the upper end of the levers and carriages. o

2. In ahand truck comprising a wheeled frame, a pair of slidable arms onthe frame, movable towards and away from one another, a sliding rack barfor each arm, means includinga shaft and pinion forsimultaneouslyoperating the rack bars towards *and away from oneanother, 'a double ended lever rockablymounted: intermediate its ends oneach rack bar, asliding carriage for each arm, means connecting thecarriage with, its arm, a pivot for the lower end of each double endedlever, a pin and slot connection between another, meansfor'simult'aneously operating the rack bars in opposite directions, adouble ended lever rockably supported intermediate its'ends by e'achrackbar and movable'therewith, a sliding carriage for each arm, meansrigidly connecting the carriages with their arms,'a pin and slotconnectionbetween the upper ends of the double ended levers and thecarriages, a toggle for each carriage, each toggle including a swingingshort link and a long link, the short and long links being pivotedtogether, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of the double Iended levers to the outer ends of the long links of their toggles,'andmeans for straightening and breaking th'etoggles. i

: 4. In a hand truck, a wheeled framea pair of arms slidably mounted onthe frame and movable towards and away from one another, a pair of rackbars movable towardsfand away from :one

, another, means for simultaneously operating the rackbars in oppositedirections, a double ended lever rockably supported intermediate itsends by each rack bar and movabletherewith, a sliding carriage for eacharm, means rigidly connecting the carriages with their arms, a pinaridslot connection-between the upper ends of the double ended leversand the carriages, a toggle for each 1 carriage, each toggle including aswinging short link'and a long link, the short and long links beingpivoted together, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of thedouble ended levers to the outer ends of the long links of theirtoggles, means for straightening and breaking the toggles, said meansincluding a pair of rock shafts, cranks on the rock shafts, dependingoperating links secured to the cranks and to the short links of thetoggles, afoot pedalfor operating one of said shafts, and meansoperatively connecting the shafts together. I

Ahand truck comprising a'wheeled frame, a pair of arms slidably carriedby the lower end of the frame and 'movable' towards and away from oneanother, meansforadjusting the arms, forwardly extending legs carried bythe arms, inwardly directed spurs on the legs, and a platform on thetruck frame movable towards and away from the spurs, r

6. A hand truck comprising a wheeled frame, apair of arms slidablycarried by the lower end of theframe and movable towards and away fromone another, means for adjusting the arms, forwardly extending legscarried by the arms, inwardly directed spurs 'on the legs, a platform onthe truck frame movable towards'and, away from the spurs, and manualmeans for adjusting the position of the platform. I

'7. A hand truck comprising a wheeled frame, a

=pair.of arms slidablymounted onthe frame,

. means for moving said arms toward and away from one another, forwardlydirected legs on the arms and spurs on said legs projecting towards oneanother, a platform for the truck frame, means pivotally connecting theupper end of the platform to the truck frame, means for: swingingthe'lower end of the platform towards and away from the spurs, saidmeans including a rock shaft carried by the upper end of the platform,cranks secured to therock shaft, a hand grip on one of said cranks,depending links pivotally's'ecured to the cranks,'channel-shaped guidessecuredto the truckframe, plates carried bythesides of the platformadjacent to its lower *end' having diagonally extending slots therein,and headed pins carried by the forward ends of the links, receivedinsaid slots with the heads thereof mounted in said guides.

-8. A hand truck comprising a wheeled frame,

' a pair of arms slidably mounted on the frame,

means formoving said arms toward and away from one another, forwardlydirected legs on the arms and spurs on said legs projectingtowards'sone'another, a platform for the truck frame, means pivotallyconnecting the upper end lower 'end having diagonally extending slotsthereimand headed pins carried by the forward ends of the'links,received in said slots with the heads thereof-mounted in said guides,and means for locking the platform in an adjusted position.

9. An operating mechanism comprising a casing," members slidably mountedin the casing, a pair of rack bars in the casing, means forsimultaneously moving the rack .bars towards and away from one another,a carriage slidably mounted in the casing for each member, means rigidlyconnecting the carriage with its member, a double ended leverrockablysupported intermediate its ends by each rack bar, means pivotallysupporting the lower end of each lever, and a pin and slotconnectionbetween the other end of eachlever, and a carriage.

10. A hand truck comprising, a wheeled frame, gripping jaws slidablymounted on the frame and movable toward and away from one another, arack bar for. each arm, means for simultaneously; operating the rackbars in opposite directions, and=an intermediate leverage mechanismoperatively connecting the rack bars with the sliding gripping "arms toincrease the power on said arms. 7

11. A hand truck comprising, a wheeled frame, a pair of gripping armscarried by the lower end of the frame and movable toward and away fromone another into and out of load gripping position, means for adjustingthe position of the arms, and a platform on the truck frame movablebetween the arms toward and away from the forward ends thereof.

12. A hand truck comprising, a wheeled frame, a pair ,of gripping armscarried by the lower end of the frame and movable toward and away fromone another, means for adjusting the arms into and out of load grippingposition, a swingingplatform on the truck frame movable between the armstoward and away from the forward ends thereof, and manual means for ad-CARL F. COLLINS.

